STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator BROCKMAN (Western Australia—Deputy President and Chair of Committees) (13:38): Well, they're at it again. The radical animal activists are stirring up their inner-city lefty luvvies to attack Australia's cattle trade. We've seen this before.

We've seen the playbook before. Contrary to all the evidence, contrary to the facts and contrary to the science, they attacked the live export trade in sheep, and, with the help of the Labor government, had it closed down. They're at it again, attacking our live cattle trade contrary to the science, contrary to the facts and contrary to the evidence that we not only export cattle; we export the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

Well, they can try, but I know farmers are willing to fight. Farmers are up to the fight. They will defend their livelihoods.

They will defend their track record in delivering high-quality protein to the world. I'll be standing right there beside them as they take up that fight, because we know that this Labor government will roll over for a few preferences in inner-city seats. They did it once before; they did it to the sheep industry.

They'll do it again, to the cattle industry. So we need to stand up, we need to be heard, we need to defend our northern cattle trade and we need to make sure that Labor hears that message loud and clear. I'll let those radical activists get stuck into their tofu burgers.

I'll get stuck into defending regional Australia. Go online and sign my petition. Support our wonderful cattle industry.